A beginner's guide to the course
Welcome to InThinking and welcome to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme English A: language and literature course! This page – and the subsequent sub-pages – are designed for teachers who are new to the IB and to the English A: language and literature course. If you are totally lost, completely confused, or stressed out and anxious because you have no idea what you are doing, don’t fear! We are here to help!
Click through the sub-pages to get you started on the following:
- The IB - mission and learner profile;
- The course – syllabus requirements, course design, and more;
- The assessments – Paper 1, Paper 2, Individual Oral, and the Higher Level Essay;
- IB “speak” - popular acronyms and shorthand used in the IB world;
- Frequently asked questions - common questions about the course.
If you are new, work through these pages before playing around with the rest of the site. This will help solidify your understanding of the course. The rest of the site will then be easier to navigate with this base knowledge.
Key tip: Get your hands on the Language A: language and literature guide (if you haven't already done so). Read it. Highlight it. Know it well. This the document that explains everything you need to know about the course.
Most of all, we want to welcome you to our community! Please do reach out to us in the comments section if you have any questions – and there really are no stupid questions here – or if you are unsure about anything. So much can seem daunting at first, but please know that we are here to help you get through it all!
Selected Pages
A beginner's guide to the course
Assessment
This is an unseen guided textual analysis. Students are given two non-literary extracts. They choose one. A question is...
A beginner's guide to the course
Frequently asked questions
Some Frequently Asked QuestionsI’m new to the IB and I don’t fully understand the idea of non-literary bodies of work....
A beginner's guide to the course
IB acronyms
Like any organization or school, the International Baccalaureate is full of acronyms, shorthand, and nouns that are specific...
A beginner's guide to the course
IB mission statement and learner profile
What sets the International Baccalaureate apart from many different examining boards across the world is their mission...
A beginner's guide to the course
The course
It is a mandatory requirement for all students to have a learner portfolio. Click here to find out more about the learner...